6 Jan 2014

BOOKS READ: 2013.

 2013 saw .......

132 books or approximately 40,893 pages read meaning, on average I read 11 books a months or, if you prefer, 2.5 books a week or, to be even more precise, 112 pages a day.

JANUARY ......
  1. WOLFSBANE AND MISTLETOE edited by Charlaine Harris.*
  2. THE SECRET DMS FILES OF FAIRDAY MORROW by J. Haight and S. Robinson. ***
  3. THE MUMMYFESTO by Linda Green.**
  4. THE MAN WHO FORGOT HIS WIFE by John O'Farrell.
  5. PRIVATE PEACEFUL by Michael Morpurgo.
  6. THE MOZART QUESTION by Michael Morpurgo (click on above link for review). 
  7. SKETCHER by Roland Watson-Grant. **
  8. CHRIST THE LORD: THE ROAD TO CANA by Anne Rice. 
  9. PROM NIGHTS FROM HELL by various authors. *
  10. THE BOOK OF LOVE by Kathleen McGowan.
  11. HAPPIER by Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D *
FEBRUARY ......
  1. TURTLE IN PARADISE by Jennifer L Holm. ***
  2. WEIRDO. MOSHER. FREAK: IF ONLY THEY'D STOPPED AT NAME CALLING by Catherine Smyth.
  3. MISERY BEAR'S GUIDE TO LOVE & HEARTBREAK by Misery Bear.
  4. PADDINGTON RACES AHEAD by Michael Bond. (click on above link for review)
  5. THE RAGING QUIET by Sherryl Jordan.
  6. SHAKESPEARE'S TROLLOP by Charlaine Harris.
  7. SHAKESPEARE'S COUNSELOR by Charlaine Harris (click on above link for review)
  8. THE WERELING #2: PREY by Stephen Cole.
  9. THE APPRENTICE (RIZZOLI & ISLES #2) by Tess Gerritsen.
  10. SACRED HEARTS by Sarah Dunnant.
  11. HUBBLE BUBBLE by Jane Lovering. **
  12. A LION AMONG MEN by Gregory Maguire.
  13. SPEAKING FROM AMONG THE BONES by Alan Bradley. **
MARCH ......
  1. FEAR by Stefan Zweig. **
  2. THE DISILLUSIONED by D.J. Williams. **
  3. WORKING FOR THE DEVIL by Lilith Saintcrow. *
  4. KEEPING FAITH by Jodi Picoult. *
  5. BAREBACK by Kit Whitfield. *
  6. THE LION OF CAIRO by Oden Scott. *
  7. A BOY BEYOND REACH by Cheri Florance. *
  8. THE LAST GOSPEL by David Gibbins. *
  9. DERIK'S BANE by MaryJanice Davidson. *
  10. DRY SEASON by Dan Smith. *
APRIL ......
  1. THE BLACK DAHLIA by James Ellroy.
  2. THE NEVER LIST by Koethi Zan. **
  3. THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO by Patrick Ness. *
  4. THE CLOCK OF LIFE by Nancy Klann-Moren. **
  5. DOUBLE CLICK by Lisa Becker. **
  6. BONE QUILL by John & Carole E Barrowman.
  7. THE FINEST TYPE OF ENGLISH WOMANHOOD by Rachel Heath.
  8. ROOTS OF EVIL by Sarah Rayne.
  9. INSIGNIA by SJ Kincaid. **
  10. THE TALE OF HILL TOP FARM by Susan Wittig Albert.
  11. OVER THE MOON by David Essex. **
  12. LAST TRAIN TO OMAHA by Ann Whitely Gillen. **
MAY ...... 
  1. MORE WEIRD THINGS CUSTOMERS SAY IN BOOKSHOPS by Jen Campbell. **
  2. CARAVANS AND WEDDING BANDS: MEMORIES OF A ROMANY LIFE by Eva Petulengro.
  3. BLACK SPRING by Alison Croggon.
  4. DRAMA COMES TO PRIOR'S FORD by Eve Houston.
  5. THE SILENCE OF GETHSEMANE by Michael Benoit. **
  6. ZAREMBA OR LOVE AND THE RULE OF LAW by Michelle Granas. **
  7. THE SUMMER WITHOUT MEN by Siri Hustvedt.
  8. THE ASSASSIN'S MARK by David Ebsworth. **
  9. OSCAR WILDE AND THE CANDLELIGHT MURDERS by Gyles Brandreth.
  10. SEMMANT by Vadim Babenko. **
  11. THE HAPPY NUMBERS OF JULIUS MILES by Jim Keeble. **
  12. A NEW SCIENCE OF NAVIGATION by Martin Jenkins. **
  13. THE MAMMY by Brendan O'Carroll.
  14. HOW NOT TO MURDER YOUR GRUMPY by Carol E Wyer. *
JUNE ......

  1. SILENT NOON by Trilby Kent. **
  2.  WISH YOU WERE HERE by Victoria Connelly. ***
  3. AND THE SOFT WIND BLOWS by Lance Umenhofer. **
  4. GIMME SHELTER by Rob Gittins. **
  5. THREE KINGS, ONE THRONE by Michael Wills. **
  6. BLACK CROW WHITE LIE by Candi Sari. **
  7. THE DEVIL'S RIBBON by D.E. Meredith. **
  8. CATS IN THE NEWS by Martyn Lewis.
  9. GODIVA by Nicole Galland. **
  10. PRECAUTIONARY TALES FOR GRANDPARENTS by James Muirden. **
  11. MY HUSBAND NEXT DOOR by Catherine Alliott. ***
  12. NIGHT FLOWER by Sarah Stovell. **
  13. FIFTY IS NOT A FOUR LETTER WORD by Linda Kelsey.
JULY ......
  1. THE LAST TEARS OF SCOTLAND by Thomas E Greenlaw. **
  2. CHILD OF DESTINY by Rodney St Clair Ballenden. **
  3. THE STRING DIARIES by Stephen Lloyd Jones. *
  4. RISING DARKNESS by Thea Harrison. */**
  5. A TALE WITHOUT A NAME by Penelope S Delta. **
  6. THE BOOKMAN'S TALE by Charlie Lovett. *
  7. TALESPINS by Michael Mullin. **
  8. THE SNOW CHILD by Eowyn Ivey.
  9. MR LOVERMAN by Bernadine Evaristo. ***
AUGUST ......
  1. BROKEN by Karin Slaughter.
  2. FINDING RACHEL DAVENPORT by Michael Harling.
  3. THE FLOWER PLANTATION by Nora Anne Brown. **
  4. SPIRIT AND DUST by Rosemary Clement-Moore. ***
  5. DR WHO: DARK HORIZONS by Jenny T Colgan. ***
  6. ISABEL'S SKIN by Peter Benson. **
  7. THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS by Rebecca Skloot.
  8. LITTLE FACE by Sophie Hannah.
SEPTEMBER ......
  1. DANCE THE MOON DOWN by R.L. Bantram. */**
  2. NOT FOR PROFIT by Glenn Shepard, MD. **
  3. WHERE DO COMEDIANS GO WHEN THEY DIE by Milton Jones.
  4. THE KEEPER OF SECRETS by Julie Thomas. **
  5. THE STORYTELLER by Jodi Picoult.
  6. A PLACE OF SECRETS by Rachel Hore.
  7. STUART: A LIFE BACKWARDS by Alexander Masters.
  8. LITTLE WOMEN by Louisa M Alcott.
OCTOBER ......

  1. THE BRIDE WORE SIZE 12 by Meg Cabot. **
  2. SWIMMING IN THE MOON by Pamela Schoenewaldt. **
  3. FIRE AND SWORD by Simon Scarrow. *
  4. FOUR FATHERS VOLUME 1: FOR WHOM THE BOOK TELLS by George Pritchard Harris. **
  5. THE SKINNING TREE by Srikumar Sen. *
  6. BONE CROSSED by Patricia Briggs.
  7. IN BLOOM by Matthew Crow. ***
  8. THE PLEASURE SEEKERSby Tishani Doshi.
  9. THE GOATWOMAN OF SMACKOVER: A ARKANSAS LEGEND by Ramona Wood.
  10. STORMBRINGERS by Philippa Gregory.
  11. UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR by Sherrilyn Kenyon.
  12. THE WITCH'S TEARS by Jenny Nimmo.
  13. BRYANT & MAY ON THE LOOSE by Christopher Fowler.
NOVEMBER ......

  1. DANCING TO THE FLUTE by Manisha Jolie Amin. *
  2. HOTEL JULIET by Belinda Seaward. 
  3. THE GIRL BELOW by Bianca Zander. **
  4. WOLFSANGEL by Liza Perrat. **
  5. THE SECRET LAKE by Karen Inglis. **
  6. BOOKENDS by Jane Green.
  7. THE PAST IS MYSELF by Christabel Bielenberg.
  8. BLOOD OF ANCIENT KINGS by V.J.O. Gardner. **
  9. QUEST OF THE KING by V.J.O. Gardner. ** (click on above link for review)
  10. DEAR SANTA: THE BEST LETTERS EVER WRITTEN TO FATHER CHRISTMAS by Birger Sivertson. *
  11. A GUINEA PIG NATIVITY by Bloomsbury. * (click on above link for review)
  12. THE SANTA CLAUS LEAGUE by Stephen Miller. */** 

DECEMBER ......

  1. BLUE CHRISTMAS by Mary Kay Andrews. *
  2. IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS by Katie Flynn. *
  3. A MISTLETOE KISS by Katie Flynn. * (Review as link above)
  4. CHRISTMAS WISHES by Katie Flynn* (Review as In Time For Christmas)
  5. BEYOND MY CONTROL by Suzan Collins. **
  6. CHRISTMASTIME 1940: A LOVE STORY by Agnes Irene */***
  7. ISLAND OF THE SEQUINED LOVE NUN by Christopher Moore.
  8. CHRISTMAS AT CARRINGTON'S by Miranda Dickinson. */***
  9. THE BOOK LOVERS' COMPANION: WHAT TO READ NEXT by various authors. ***

* Read for a book challenge(s).
** Read and reviewed on behalf of an author/publisher/magazine.
*** A giveaway win.
  • My favourite read(s): The Secret DMS Files Of Fairday Morrow: Though aimed at the younger reader I'm sure this will be enjoyed by many. The Raging Quiet: One of the most beautiful and poignant books I've ever read. Bone Quill: Even better than the previous book in the series. Last Train To Omaha: Such a memorable story, the characters will stay with me for a long time.The Night Flower: An exceptional read. Swimming In The MoonHistorically rich on all levels, I felt the author did exceptionally well to touch on so many issues whilst managing to maintain my interest throughout. In Bloom: One of if not my favourite reads of 2013.
  • My least favourite read(s): The Black Dahlia: The most vile book I have ever read. The Summer Without Men. Another Reading Group read, another nil point, The Summer Without Men. Trying too hard to be clever? A New Science Of Navigation: Perhaps a cult read of the future but I just didn't get it.
  • Best loved character(s): Fairday Morrow (The Secret DMS Files Of Fairday Morrow): A great heroine, I loved her spirit and sense of adventure. Marnie, Raven, and Father Brannan (The Raging Quiet): Wonderful characters each and every one of them.  The charismatic war veteran Martin Diggs (Last Train To Omaha) will stay with me for a long time to come. Carson Calley (Black Crow White Lie): I'm still trying to work out if I liked this twelve year old because of or despite his flaws.
  • Best villain(s): 'Cop-killer and torturer' Yaroslav (Gimme Shelter): Simply chilling. The Reverend and his son (The Night Flower): A supposedly 'Christian' man and yet such a hypocrite. Mother and son, Vivienne and David (Little Face): If not entirely believable they were still sinister.
  • Book(s) I was most disappointed by: Sacred Hearts: On my wish list for longer than I care to think about, thank goodness I didn't actually buy a copy. Where Do Comedians Go When They Die: A huge of the comedian I was expecting more of this his first novel.The Storyteller: I was hoping for so much more from this.
  • Book(s) that most surprised me: And The Soft Wind Blows: Not knowing what to expect of what the author described as poetic fiction, I really enjoyed it. TaleSpins: Re-tellings and poetry aren't normally my thing but I loved this little book. For Whom The Book Tells: At times lewd but thanks to the authors clever use of words and his book references I enjoyed this far more than I'd anticipated.
  • Best book(s) that form a series: Double Click: It was great to catch up with Renee and co. Bone Quill: So much stronger than the first book. 
  • Nostalgic read(s): Paddington Races Ahead.
  • Favourite cover(s): Not in any particular order .......









What about you? What did 2013 see you reading? See below to see what some of my blogger buddies have been reading over the past year. Oh and please feel free to link up in my comment box and I'll happily add your year end book post ......
PS. My Media Monday posts will resume next Monday.

Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper. All original content on http://pettywitter.blogspot.co.uk/ is created by the website owner, including but not limited to text, design, code, images, photographs and videos are considered to be the Intellectual Property of the website owner, whether copyrighted or not, and are protected by DMCA Protection Services using the Digital Millennium Copyright Act Title 17 Chapter 512 (c)(3). Reproduction or re-publication of this content is prohibited without permission. In addition I would also urge that if you are reading this on any other page you contact the original blog owner/reviewer.

14 comments:

Kelly said...

An excellent reading wrap-up post.

A few of them I've read, some I'm still thinking about, others are already on my shelf (or in my Kindle) on your recommendation.

Now I'm off to check out some of the other wrap-ups. Thanks for providing the links.

Lindsay said...

I love this summary post Tracy, I really enjoyed reading it.
TaleSpins is a fab book cover, love the simplicity of it and the stylish font for the title.
I'm hoping to read The Storyteller soon, I've seen mixed reviews.
Thanks very much for including a link to my year end post too!
I hope you have many wonderful reads in 2014.

Suko said...

Wonderful wrap-up of your year in reading, Tracy! 11 books a month is quite remarkable--you are obviously an avid and fast reader. I hope the new year is your best yet, reading wise.

Camila Rafaela Felippi said...

Wow! You are a good reading. Congratulations! I want to read a book in English, but I don't know where to start, because I want a book not so easy and not so difficult, because I'm Brazilian :b
do you have some idea?

Happy new year!

Shooting Stars Mag said...

I do like these summary posts on people's blogs. You got a lot of reading in last year!

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

Love these kind of reading summaries. You had a good year in reading. I love those covers too! Have another even better reading year this new year! :)

Yvonne @ Fiction Books Reviews said...

Hi Tracy,

What a great post and what an impressive list of titles read this year, I won't and can't compete, or even come close to it!

I see that in May, you read 'Zaremba' by Michelle Granas and it seems from your review, that you quite enjoyed it. I have literally just opened the Kindle file for this book, so hope to get stuck into it tomorrow.

One of the books which most surprised you was 'And The Soft Wind Blows', which I also have in my review pile, so I am quite looking forward to reading it now, as I admit I wasn't too sure what to expect.

Thanks for sharing and happy reading in 2014,

Yvonne.

Literary Feline said...

It sounds like you had a wonderful reading year, Tracy! I hope to read Swimming in the Moon at some point. It sounds so good!

Those are awesome covers! I like them too. :-)

Have a Happy New Year! Here's to more great reading in 2014.

Alexia561 said...

Looks like you had a productive
reading year! And you read so many interesting books! You're a faster reader than I am, and have inspired me to try to read more in 2014. Here's to a great year!

Brian Joseph said...

Very impressive list!

I am jealous over the number of books that you have read.

Interesting comment about The Black Dahlia. I have heard that it was a very disturbing book.

Mary (Bookfan) said...

Impressive number of books read! I hope 2014 will be a great reading year.

Stephanie@Fairday's Blog said...

Wow! You read a ton of books in 2013. Awesome to see your list.

I am over the top excited that The Secret DMS Files of Fairday Morrow was one of your favorites and that you loved Fairday. Yeah! I am jumping up and down right now. :) Thanks so much for putting a big smile on my face.

Happy Reading!

DMS said...

Tracy you are such an amazing reader! Thank you so much for choosing The DMS :) Stephanie and I always love to hear from you! Happy New Year!!! ~ Jess

So many books, so little time said...

I would love to go through and do mine. Of yours I have read 2 and have a few on my tbr.

Lainy http://www.alwaysreaeding.net